Card-frame mounting



Feb 17, 1931. c. D. MORTON CARD FRAME MOUNTING Filed Nov. 21, 1927 I H z Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES CHARLES I); MORTON, OF RIVER roans r, ILLINoIs CARD-FRAME MOUNTING Application filed November 21, 1927. SeriaINo. 234,580.

My invention relates to devices for the special assistance and convenience of offices, companies and manufacturing plants employ,-

- ing a large number of employees and where ,5 it is desirous of having such employees make suggestions as to means or manner of improving the method, articles, or carrying on of the business. I v

One of the objects of the present invention, is to provide a convenient and serviceable box mounted at some suitable location in such ofiice or factory within which may be placed notes, letters or other messages conveying the said suggestions to officers of the company. Another object is to provide such a box with a space for display of: printed cards to remind and urge the employees to carry out the object and purpose of such suggestion box.

A further object is to provide such a device, which is easily and quickly securely mounted at any suitable location upon the wall of such. factory or oflicej; which is simple in construc-.

tion and operation, and yet will present a neat, artistic, attractiveand durable appearance in such oflice or factory. a

With the above and other objects in view, which will more particularly appear from the.

specification following, Ihave shown one embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference refer to the same part throughout the various views, and in which, 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of mysuggestion boxes in upright positionready for use,

Figure 2 is a sectional viewof the same, taken along the line w,a2 in Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a detail view of a portionof the back showing the locking member v5.

Figure 4c is a section view taken along the line 2.a in Figure 3.

In the construction of the suggestion boxshown in the accompanying drawings, I have preferably made the back 1 from a single, rectangular sheet of metal, formed and stamped into the, shape and design desired. The openings 2, 3 are punched therein atthe,

same time, andfihe @dgesare turnedv rearstrengthen the said back, and also to provide, a recess in the rear for the parts hereinafter described as attached thereto. On the rear side of the back 1, I have provided suitable perforated supporting straps 7, 7 which are spot welded thereto at points a, 4 and are adapted to support the suggestion box upon nails or screws'fastened'in the adjacent wall. These. straps 7, 7 are preferably formed in the cross-section shown in Figure 2, and near the top are provided with'the rounded openings, 10, 10 having the narrow upward extending slots shown at 11, 11'; By this con-- struction, the openings 10, 10 are adapted to pass over the nail or screw heads, and as the suggestion boX is lowered into position, the narrow slots 11, 11 engage the shank of'the nail or screw below the head, and retain the said suggestion box upon said nails or screws, against danger of falling or accidentally being arred off said nails or screws. To remove the saidsuggestion box from the nails or screws supporting it, the suggestion box is raised until thelower portion of the openings at 10, 1O register with the heads of the nails or screws supporting said suggestion box, when .it can readily be removed there from. At the top of. the back 1, I have providedtwo upwardly extending straps12, 12 to which may be attached a nameplate 13, to carry the name of the company using such. suggestion box, or suchothernameor wording as maybe desired. a

A detachable card frame leis provided for attachment to the front of said back 1 as shown in Figure 1. This frame is preferably made of metal, with open front and rear, and maybe ofany desired shape, such as rectangular, round, oval or the'like as preferred. At the front of this card frame, the edge is turned inwardly to retain the glass 16 mounted therein, and at the rear the edge is also turned inwardly as at 17 toform a means forattachment of said card frame to the back 1, and also to provide means for retaining the cards within said'frame. In use, I employ the cardframe for the display of interchangeablepr nted cards20which are placed within saidframe.-in therear ofthe glass16 -and are h l in pla e y the flat detached springs 21, 21, which engage the inturned edges of the card frame on opposite sides and are held in place by the spring tension of said springs. To attach said card frame 14 to the ba ck it is placed firmly against the front side of the back, with the rear of the card frame against the front of the back. and the upper edge of the card frame slightly above the tops of the retaining members 22, 22 attached to said back. The card frame is then forced downward, until the upper ends of the members 22, 22 engage the interned edge 17 of the card frame, and prevent further movement; In this position, the card frame is supported by said members 22, 22 so long as the suggestion box is in an upright position, but said card frame may be removed at any time, by raising it upward suiiiciently to disengage it from said members 22, 22 or it might accidentally be jarred or knocked off of said members 22, 22. To insure that said card frame cannot be displaced accidentally, or by an unauthorized person, I have provided a locking member 5. This member 5 is formed from a suitable piece of metal with its upper end turned forward to form the hook-shape shown at 23 and its lower end turned at right angles to form the handle 24 for operating said member. This locking member 5 is slidably mounted in the openings 2 and 3 in the back 1 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. and is retained against accidental detachment by the strap 25 which is attached to the back 1 on either side of the member 5, and passes over and above said member 5 permitting both vertical and lateral movement thereof, without becoming detached from said back. To lock the card frame 14 in position upon the back 1 against accidental or unauthorized re moval, the locking member 5 is pushed up ward until the point of the hook 23 is above the inturned edge of said card frame at the lower side thereof. The member 5 is then forced downward, forcing the hook 28 into engagement with the inturned edge 17 at the lower side of the card frame and in conjunc-- tion with the members 22, 22 retains said card frame against removal without raising the locking member 5 again to release said ard frame. By moving the lower end of the locking member 5 to the right, as shown in the dotted lines Figure 3, until the handle portion 24 engages the narrow extension 26 eX- tending to the right from the opening 3, the

said locking member 5 is held against any upward movement until released by hand, and hence holds said card frame against any accidental or unauthorized removal, until said locking member is again moved to the left position, and raised to release said card frame. The friction of the locking'member against the parts is sufiicient to retain it against accidental movement but additional means may he provided wherever required to hold said locking member rigidly in the locking post tion until released by hand.

Below the card frame, I have attached the receptacle box 27 to the back 1, to which it is attached by any suitable means. Said boX has usually been constructed of sheet metal and in substantially rectangular shape, with the cover 28 hinged thereto as shown. A lock as 29 of any usual type may be employed to lock said hinged cover in closed position, and a letter slot is provided at 80 to permit notes, messages, letters or other desired matter to be passed through said slot into said receptacle box, without unlocking and opening the hinged cover. A suitable guard 31 is provided above said slot 30 to prevent rain, dust or other matter entering said slot and damaging th contents of said receptacle box.

Below the receptacle box, and near the bottom of the back 1, I have attached to said back 1-by any usual meansa shelf 32 with suitable ends 33, 33 which, with the shelf form an open front compartment for holding and supplying the blanks, note paper, or other suitable means convenient for use in connection with said suggestion box. I have preferably made the said shelf 32 to slope gradually rearward, as thereby the tablets, note paper or other material resting in said compartment will be retained against accidental movement forward, or slipping out from jarring or other accidental causes.

In the construction of my said suggestion box, it is my purpose to make them of such size, proportion and configuration as shall make them attractive as a part of the office furniture or part of the equipment of the factory where used. The parts may be varied in size, style or shape as shall best suit the various needs to which it is to be applied. I also purpose to employ specially designed and copyrighted cards in the open front card frame to assist in impressing upon the employees the importance of utilizing said suggestion box as designed.

When the hinged cover 27 is closed and locked, it will be apparent that the locking member 5which is located within the receptacle box beneath said cover-cannot be released until said hinged cover is unlocked and raised to permit the member 5 to be operated. As a consequence, the card frame is thus locked against unauthorized removal, whenever the said hinged cover is closed and locked.

At desired intervals, the authorized person may unlock the hinged cover, and remove the contents of the receptacle box, and may also, when desired, release the card frame 14, and may change the cards which appear therein, and after so changing said cards as desired, he may replace said card frame upon the back 1, and again lock it in position there as described above.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following 1. A device of the class described comprising a supporting back; upwardly extending hook-like projections on said back; a card frame having its edges turned inwardly, the upper inwardly turned edge being adapted and arranged to engage said projections; and a movable locking member for engaging the lower inturned edge of said frame, said look ing member being provided at its vupper end With a hook engaging the lower edge of said frame, there being an opening in said back accommodating said hook; the lower end of said locking member being provided with a forwardly extending projection, there being another opening in said back receiving said projection and having walls arranged to permit disengagement of said hook from said lower edge in one position of said locking member and locking said hook against such disengagement in another position of the locking member.

2. A device of the class described comprising a supporting back; a card frame having its upper end removably attached to said back; and a movable locking member for engaging the lower edge of said frame, said locking member being provided at its upper end with a hook engaging the lower edge of said frame, there being an opening in said back accommodating said hook, the lower end of said locking member being provided with a forwarding extending projection, there being another opening in said back receiving said. projection and having walls arranged to permit the disengagement of said hook from said lower edge in one position of said locking member and locking said hook against such disengagement in another position of said locking member.

In testimony hereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

CHARLES D. MORTON. 

